Matthew e



(No Model) M. R. MOORE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MOLDS FOR GASTINGS. No. 318,784.

Patented May 26, 1885.

NY PETERS Phmo-Lilhcgnplxru. Waahingion o, a

UNTTEn STaTEs PATENT OEETEE.

MATTHEW? R. MOORE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING MOLDS FOR CASTINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,78, dated May 26,1885.

(X0 model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW E. Moons, of Indianapolis, Marion county, inthe State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines for Making Molds for Castings, of which the following is aspecification.

Letters Patent to me dated July 22, 1884, No. 302,349, set forth meansfor rapidly and uniformly compressing the dampened sand in a flask. Ihave since devised further improvements.

A stout platen equipped with a diaphragm and connections for introducingcompressed air or other fluid to depress the diaphragm upon the sand ishinged by hinge-posts to the body, so that it may be easily brought intoposition for use and removed to allow the exchange of the flask. Icombine with such mechanism for operating the pattern through aclose-fitting hole in the strippingplate, which latter I term asilhouette or a silhouette' plate, and provide strong dogs withconvenient operating means for supporting the pattern-plate against thegreat strain to which it is subjected. I make the hinge convenientlyadjustable up and down, to accommodate different heights of flasks andappurtenances. I provide a top box turning on thesamehinge. I providefor conveniently increasing the depth of the top box, to vary thequantity of sand thus stored. I provide an automatic catch for allowingthe top box and platen to be worked together for certain movements andseparately for other movements.

The improved machine is compact and conveniently operated. Myexperiments indicate that it can be worked with great rapidity, themolds therefrom producing castings of more than usual reliability andperfection.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, andrepresent what I consider the bestmeaus of carrying out the invention asapplied to the casting of elbows for steam or gas pipes, casting four atonce. Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the entire apparatus. Fig.Zis averticalsection through the flask and the immediately adjacentparts. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing a portion on a larger scale.

spending parts in all the figures where they occur.

E is a stout body of cast-iron or other suitable material, certainportions of which will be designated by additional marks, as E E E is apostor standard under the center, and E a foot sufficiently extended toafford a stable support.

E E are stout lugs at the back, which receive screw threaded hinge postsJ, st-iffly held by nuts J J Eyes in the tops of these posts J receive atransverse bolt, K, which forms an axis or hinge on which turns astoutplaten, G, of cast-iron or other suitable material, carrying on itsunder face a flexible diaphragm, G, adapted to be depressed to variableextents by air, water, or other fluid under pressure, introduced throughan orifice in the top by means of aflexible hose, N, or other suitableconnection.

E E are short arms or lugs, which, in conjunction with detaehable pieces0, held by the screws 6, form stout connections for links F, adapted toengage over stout projections G on the front of the platen G. Thehingeposts J and links F serve as strong ties to hold the platen to thebody E.

In the use of the machine the flasks A are introduced in succession oneafter another in the space left between the platen and the body, and thesand D, introduced in liberal quantities, is compressed around thepatterns by the depression of the diaphragm. The platen, with thediaphragm, is raised by the disengagement of the links F and the turningof the platen and its attachments on the hinge K. This allows the flaskto be removed and a new one substituted.

I operate by protruding the patterns upward through close-fitting holesin a silhouette-plate below, and depressing them through such holes toeffect the drawing of the patterns after the sand has been compactedaround them by my machine. This mode of operation has been beforeproposed, but as heretofore attempted there have been serious practicaldifficulties in the working.

My system of compressing the sand by a yielding force applied on allparts of the upper surface of the sand, in combination with such lSimilar letters of reference indicate correi mode of working tnepat-terns, is a great ad- Vance in the arts. I have devised means ofrendering the action very perfect. r

I is the pattern-plate, and i t are the patterns. The pattern-platerests on a skeleton frame, 1*, to which it is secured by screws or othersuitable fastenings. (Not shown.) This frame 1* is provided with twowings, I, which traverse in vertical slots in the sides of the body E.Rack-teeth on the back face of each wing l are engaged by correspondingtoothed segments, L, fixed on a rocking shaft, L, supported in arms Eextending rearward from the body E. Levers L bolted to the segments L,extend forward and allow the attendant to conveniently apply hisstrength to raise and lower the pattern-plate by operating on the wingsI. The lowering of the patteru plate I and patterns 2' draws thepatterns from the sand. Screws E serve as adjustable stops to determinethe extent to which the patternplate I and its attachments may belowered.

Bis whatis sometimes known as the stripping-plate. I prefer to term itsilhouette. Its lower surface may have any form to give it properstrength, but for ordinary castings its upper surface should be plane.Holes are cut or otherwise produced in the silhouette accuratelycorresponding to the patterns.

(-1 is an oscillating cylinder containing a piston. the piston-rod G ofwhich is connected to a pin, 9, on an arm, G

A cock, Q, controlled by the attendant, lets on at will the compressedair from the reservoir W, which, pressing oh the upper surface of thepiston, pulls downward on the pin 9 and raises the platen G. Turning thecock Q in a different position allows the air to escape and the platen Gto sink again. The pressure in W is maintained by a pump, 0, operatedconstantly by a steam-engine or other suitable power. (Not shown.) Thepump 0 receives its air from the atmosphere by drawing it in through anautomatic valve, N.

The hinge-posts J are screw-threaded for a long distance. By adjustingthe nuts J J? up and down thereon the effective height of the posts maybe varied, and consequently the hinge-axis may be raised and lowered.

When the platen is raised by the action of compressed air in thecylinder G, care should be taken to correspondingly lengthen and shortenthe link G when the hinge K is raised or lowered. The links F at thefront may be correspondingly lengthened and shortened. I prefer,however, in most cases to exchange links. This is effected byhaving anumber at hand of different lengths, and on slackening the screws 0 andlowering the clamps e the exchange maybe readily effected and the partsrestored to their positi on again. These changes of length of thehinge-posts J and links F allow the machine to receive flasks A ofgreatlyvarying depth. For small or flat castings shallow flasks may beused. For deeper objects deeper flasks are required.

, In preparing-t0 operate, the pattern-plate is raised by the strengthof the attendant applied to the levers L until the patterns are thrustto the proper extent up through their respective apertures in the plateB. It is important to hold them there with unusual firmness, because theforce applied by strong pressure over the whole upper surface of thesand in the flask is felt by the pattern-plate in proportion to the areaof pattern presented. This downward strain on the pattern-plate isliable in some forms of patterns to be very great. It is in my apparatusreceived on two dogs, 0, standing one on each side and attached to atransverse rocking shaft, 0, carried in bear ings in the wings I andcontrolled by levers 0, one on each side, which are connected across thefront by a crossbar, preferably formed in one piece with the levers O,asshown.

NVhen the pattern-plate and its connections have been raised to theproper position for use, the gravity of the levers, aided or not by theattendant, deflects the bottom ofeach dog 0 out of the vertical andengages them with a firm support afforded in the body E. They supportthe pattern-plate and the patterns reliably against all the downwardstrain that can be applied. When the molding is completed and thepressure is removed and it is desired to depress the patterns, theattendant simply lifts the levers 0', thus bringing the dogs 0 into theperpendicular position. Then the gravity of the parts, aided, ifnecessary, by the force of the attendant applied to one or both thelevers L", lowers the pattern-plate until its supporting-frame I= restson the screws E again. A

The flask A may be of any ordinary or suitable construct-ion. I haveshown a form which will be made the subject of a separate applicationfor patent, and need not be further described here.

H is what I term the top piece. It is an open frame or bottomless box ofa size and form corresponding to the flask A. It is provided with'eyes,by which it is connected ICU to the bolt K, so that it turns on the sameaxis as the platen G. Its use is to lie on the top of the flask when thesand is applied thereto, and to contain an excess of sand sufficient tomore than compensate for the sinking which will be induced by thepressure applied on the upper surface. 11 is a catch pivoted to thefront of the frame and weighted, as shown.

It engages with a staple, G, in the front of the platen G.

H is a removable piece secured by screws h on the under face of the toppiece, H. WVhen shallow flasks are used, and only a little depth of sandis presented at any point, the sinking of the surface of the sand underthe strong pressure of the diaphragm is less than when a deep flask isused. need not be so much depth of the top piece. I apply or remove thepieces H as required to vary the depth of the top piece.

When the platen is lifted, the top piece,-'H,

rises with it, leaving a surplus of sand above the top of the flaskwhich has just been filled.

For shallow flasks there The excess of sand is removed by striking offwith any suitable straightedged implement. The flask, with its contents,is removed an d a similar empty flask introduced.

M is a cock having several connections and functions. A passage, m,opens into the external atmosphere. Another passage, m, connects to thepipe 0, which is provided with the valve N, opening inward, and leads tothe suction side of the pump 0. Another passage, of, connects to thehoseN, which leads to the reservoir IV, and another, m leads to the spacesbetween the diaphragm G and the rigid platen G.

The first step toward the production of the new mold is to disengage thecatch H and lower the top piece, H, into its proper horizontal position,resting on the flask A. Then, the sand being introduced to loosely fillboth the flask and the top piece, the platen G is drawn down into thehorizontal position, the links F brought up and engaged on the strongprojections G", and the cock M is turned to let the compressed air inthe hose N into the space between the platen G and the diaphragm G. Theair flows rapidly and fills the space with a pressure of some fortypounds per square inch. The air under this tension, acting over thewhole upper surface of the sand, finds a firm abutment in the strong andrigid platen G, held down by the hinge-posts J on one side and the linksF on the other, and presses downward with an equable force over thewhole area of the sand. The depth of sand which lies over the'highestparts of the pattern will be compressed to a certain extent. The greaterdepths of sand which lie between the patterns will be compressed to thesame relative extent, and by reason of the greater depth of the sand tothus be compressed the upper surface of the sand will sink lower atthese points than over the patterns. The result will be a uniformcompression of all the sand in the mold, and the diaphragm will liecompressed firmly and eqnably against the top of the sand, which latter,with the diaphragm, will lie in the form of hills and valleys. Now, thecock M is turned slowly by the attendant in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 3, and the surplus pressure is discharged through theaperture m into the atmosphere. On turning the cook a little fartherconnection is made with the induction or suction side of the pump 0. Thecontinued working of the pump by exhausting the air from the diaphragm Gmakes a partial vacuum therein. The vacuum will be but slight before thecheck-valve N will be lifted and the pump will commence to receive itsair in the ordinary way from the external atmosphere through this valve,but before the check-valve lifts a slight vacuum will be produced, andthis will be sufficient to draw up the diaphragm into close contact withthe platen. .Now, the attendant elevates the levers 0 either by takinghold directly of the cross-bar or by acting on the lever P, which ispivoted on the lever L at the point ture provided in the bottom of thebody, and 1 the pattern-plate I and its attachments descend by gravity,aided or restrained, if necessary, by the strength of the attendantapplied through the levers L The patterns 2 are by this movement drawndownward, leaving their impressions in the compacted sand, which latteris held up by the silhouette-plate. N ext, the attendant disengages thelinks F,and,either by hand or by the mechanism described, lifts both theplaten G and top piece, H, into the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 2, and proceeds as before to strike oif the surplus sand and removethe flask and supply a new one.

I is a screw tapped through the patternplate I, and adjusted to supportthe central portion of the silhouette-plate B when the pressure of thediaphragm G is transmitted downward through the sand received thereon.The edges of the silhouette rest on strong internal shoulders in thebody E.

The check-valve N should be only Suficiently heavy to generate a gentlevacuum in the space between the platen G and diaphragm G when the cock Mis in the right position. The orifice m lets out the excess of pressurewhen the cock M is turned one way before the vacuum commences to bemade, and lets in air to relieve the vacuum when the same cock is turnedthe other way before the strong pressure from the reservoir W is let on.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within widelimits.

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole.

I can operate successfully by the attendant taking hold directly on thecrossbar, and raising the lovers (3 to liberate the dogs 0.

For large machines I can apply power to ICC work the pattern-plate andits attachments up and down, and even to turn the cock M. V

I can dispense with the addition H to the top box, H, or even with thetop box itself, taking care to secure agood surface for the top face ofthe mold by other means.

For small machines I can dispense with the cylinder G and piston G tooperate the platen and top piece, and can work both by the force of thehands directly applied. In such case I can partially balance the platenby a weight attached by a cord or chain to one arm or quadrant, as willbe obvious.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for making molds for castings,the rigid platen G and diaphragm or yielding presser G, connected withthe body E by a hinge-joint on one side and detachable links on theother, arranged to operate as herein specified.

2. In a machine for making molds for eastings, the diaphragm G and meansfor forcing it with a yielding pressure against the sand in the flask,in combination with the patternplate I, carrying its patterns z, andsuitable means for operating the latter, combined and arranged to serveas herein specified.

'3. In a machine for making molds for castings, the hinge-posts J andadjusting means J J", in combination with the hinged platen G, holdingmeans F, and flexible presser G, arranged to serve relatively to eachother and to aflask and contents substantially as herein specified.

4.. In a machine for making molds for castings, the platen G, diaphragmG, and provisions for depressing the latter to force down the sand, incombination with the top box, H, turning on the same hinge or axis, K,and adapted to contain surplus sand, as herein specified.

5. In a machine for making molds for castings, the addition-pieces H,and means for securing them to the top box, H, in combina tion with thelat-terand with the platen G and diaphragm G, to allow the depth of thetop box to be varied, as herein specified. v

6. In a machine for making molds for castings, the catch H incombination with the top piece, H, platen G, and diaphragm G, arrangedto serve as herein specified.

7. In a machine for making molds for castphragm or presser G, and meansfor presenting a flask and patterns thereto, all arranged for jointoperation, substantially as herein specified.

8. In a machine for making molds for eastings, the reservoir, pump, andpipes N and O, in combination with the cock M, provided with three-wayconnections,and vent m, adapt.- ed to allow a pressure upon thediaphragm, to relieve such pressure, and to induce a partial vacuum atwill, asset forth.

9. In a machine for makingmolds for eastings, the air-pressure device G,connection G rigid platen G, flexible presser G, and the valves M and Q,controlling connections from the said parts to the compressed-airreservoir W,combined and arranged for joint operation substantially asherein specified In testimony whereof I havehereunto set my hand, at NewYork city,'-New York, this 10th day of January, 1885, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. MATTHEW R. MOORE; \Vitnesses:

WV. 0. DEY, CHARLES R. SEARLE.

